About A Boy - Press Conference Streams

The cast and directors of About A Boy held a press conference at Dorcester Hotel on Park Lane, London. Actors Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Nicolas Hoult, Victoria Smurfitt, and directors Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz were interviewed.

About A Boy was written by Nick Hornby and published in 1998 to critical and popular acclaim. The book sold over one million copies in the UK alone and reached the number position in the UK bestseller charts.

The film is written by Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz and directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz (Down To Earth, American Pie). The producers are Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Brad Epstein, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

The story centres on Will, a rich, child-free, and irresponsible 38-year-old slacker who, in search of available women, invents an imaginary son and starts attending single parent meetings.

As a result of one of his encounters, he meets Marcus, an awkward 12-year-old boy with problems at home and at school. Gradually, Will and Marcus become friends and, as Will teaches Marcus how to be a cool kid, Marcus helps Will to finally grow up.

Filmed on location in London and at Shepperton Studios, About A Boyis produced by Tribeca Productions and Working Title Films. The co-producer is Nicky Kentish Barnes and the executive producers are Nick Hornby and Lynn Harris.

The director of photography is Remi Adefarasin (House of Mirth, Elizabeth), the production designer is Jim Clay (Captain Corellis Mandolin, Felicias Journey), the costume designer is Joanna Johnston (Castaway, The Sixth Sense), the make up and hair designer is Graham Johnston (Bridget Joness Diary, Trainspotting), the sound mixer is Tony Dawes (Sleepy Hollow, Sense and Sensibility), and the editor is Nick Moore (Notting Hill, The Full Monty).

About A Boy is released by UiP on April 26.

Certificate TBC.

The soundtrack

The 8th of April 2002 sees the release through XL Recordings of Badly Drawn Boys original soundtrack to the film.

The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer and Bong Load Records founder Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliot Smith, etc) and is Damon Gough's first major release since the million selling, Mercury Music Prize winning, Hour Of The Bewilderbeast.